Southern Railway will be running Sabarimala special trains to clear the extra rush of passengers during Sabarimala season 2012 – 2013 – Mandala Makaravilakku (November 16 – December – January 2012). Advance reservations will open from November 16, 2012. To reach Sabarimala, passengers can get down at ErnakulamTown, Kottayam or Chengannur. There are special trains from Chennai on all days to Kollam and also a train from Chennai to Ernakulam. All trains have stops at Arakkonam, Katpadi, Gudiyattam, Vaniyambadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Podanur, Palakkad, Thrisur, Aluva, Ernakulam Town, Kottayam, Tiruvalla, Chengannur, and Kayankulam.